DESIGN BUILD

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Since 2017, the Illinois Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (I-NOMA) Design Build program has engaged minority high school students in renovating and transforming community spaces. Participating students gain hands-on experience in architecture, design, construction, and teamwork. I-NOMA partners with a community-based nonprofit that needs design services and has the capacity to provide the resources necessary for a successful partnership.

Design Build Purpose & Mission:

• Introduce high school minority youth to the design and construction process

• Improve the space of a community-based non-profit organization

• Leverage I-NOMA's resources to maximize impact in our communities

• Connect youth with design and construction professionals

• Help build youth/character life lessons

STUDENTS

Throughout this program, students will be introduced to a series of design tools and learn new ways to think critically about their community. The goal is to understand different design career paths, gain the skills needed to excel, and learn more about the design process behind a project. The sessions will loosely follow a typical architecture project design sequence: Pre-Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction.

CLICK HERE or below to REGISTER

WHEN: Saturdays, September 12th to December 5th

TIME: 10am-2pm

WHERE: 3300 N Whipple St, Chicago, IL 60618

AGE: High School Students (Incoming Freshmen - 12th Grade)

COST: $50 (Scholarships available depending on financial need)

DELIVERABLE:

Renovation of a youth workshop space for our Design-Build Community Partner Concordia Place .

Please send all questions to designbuild@i-noma.org.

VOLUNTEERS

Thanks for your interest in guiding the young architects of the future! Here are some details you'll need to know:

As a volunteer, you will be mentoring high school students through their projects along with helping coordinate the Design Build program. Through participation in this program, you will have the opportunity to help in areas where you are skilled, and work on areas where you would like to improve (we mentor each other as well!) Our specified areas include logistics and planning (organizing stuff), design and procurement (finding cool donations for the project), production (doing drawings and models for students to work off of), curriculum development, and of course actual mentoring, just to name a few.

CLICK HERE or below to REGISTER

WHEN: Saturdays, September 12th to December 5th

TIME: 10am-2pm

WHERE: 3300 N Whipple St, Chicago, IL 60618

WHO: Local professionals and college students

You’re invited to join the I-NOMA Design Build Planning Committee as well.

MENTOR PLANNING MEETINGS: Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm-I-NOMA Design-Build 2026 Planning Calls

Join the planning meetings via this link: meet.google.com/vrp-cnsz-srr

Please send all questions to designbuild@i-noma.org.

PHOTO GALLERY OF PAST YEARS (Photo Credit: Kai Brown)